A father who has resided in the same council flat for 42 years has become the owner of a £5million mansion overlooking Lake Windermere. Darren Thorpe, 53, from East London, moved into the flat at the age of 11 and has now secured a five-bedroom lakeside home through an Omaze competition.
His new property is set within more than half an acre of landscaped grounds, offering panoramic views across Windermere. It includes a separate two-storey boathouse and a private jetty. Thorpe, a concierge in London for the past three decades, purchased his winning entry for just £15 as part of his Omaze subscription. He described his life as 'often a case of living paycheque to paycheque'.
To celebrate his win, Thorpe headed to his local pub, where his 21-year-old daughter Yolotzin works, to surprise her with the news. 'She didn't believe me at first,' he said. 'Things like this just don't happen to normal people, well that's what I used to think anyway. Even though I'd just become a multimillionaire, we still got the bus to the pub, the money won't go to my head, but the booze certainly did.'
Thorpe, who rarely drinks heavily, celebrated with bottles of champagne and shots. 'I think we got back at 2am. I woke up with a huge hangover on Saturday morning, but it was all worth it when I remembered I was a millionaire!'
The property comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered, and Thorpe will also receive £250,000 in cash. 'Now all the pressure is off,' he said. 'No more money worries, I'll never have to think about how I'm going to get through the month ever again. To say it's life-changing would be a massive understatement. It's not been an easy road - life's had lots of ups and downs - this is definitely an up! I never thought I'd own a house - let alone a £5million one. My entire flat would fit in the front room. To be honest, I'd have been happy with just the boathouse.'
Thorpe was in the middle of painting a friend's summer house when Omaze first contacted him, believing 'it must be a wind-up'. 'But then I thought, I might as well pick up because at the very least it could get me out of painting the fence as well as the summer house. So I headed back home and the Omaze team knocked on my door, then the next thing I know I'm the owner of a £5 million house in the Lake District. It was crazy, one minute you're about to paint a fence, the next minute you're a multimillionaire. I thought I might pass out as I never expected it to be the house - especially as I've never won anything in my life before. I guess this makes up for 50 years of bad luck.'
The lakeside mansion features floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies, and terraces with uninterrupted views across Lake Windermere. The ground floor offers generous living space, including a reception hall, lounge, dining room, large kitchen, utility room, and additional facilities. Upstairs, there are five bedrooms and five bathrooms, including a main bedroom with en suite and dressing room. Three of the main bedrooms enjoy lake views and open onto a balcony running the full length of the house.
Outside, the property sits within more than half an acre of landscaped grounds with a large driveway, double garage, and electric gated entrance. The detached boathouse sits beside the lake and includes a wet dock and jetty on the ground floor, with a day room, kitchenette, and balcony above.
Thorpe can choose to live in the house, rent it out for supplementary income, or sell it whenever he wishes. 'Long term I don't know what I'll do yet but I'm definitely going to enjoy this incredible place for a bit. I'll host a big barbeque up here this summer with friends and family. I'll also book a holiday, but I better renew my passport or I won't be going anywhere! I'll carry on working for a bit - but I reckon it's looking like early retirement for me. The £250,000 means if I want to, I could actually afford to stay here for years. It's amazing to have that option. Whatever I decide to do, it will change mine and my daughter's lives forever. It's an incredible feeling knowing I can give her the best possible start in life. I'm happiest for her.'
